New federal guidance unveiled for bicycle, pedestrian and micromobility projects

The Federal Highway Administration wants to ensure “that biking, walking and other ways to travel are safe, convenient and enjoyable for everyone,” Administrator Shailen Bhatt said.

By Michael Brady • May 19, 2023

Los Angeles mayor announces next steps in plan to build shelters, housing on city properties

Mayor Karen Bass said she would spend the rest of her term trying to make “the disposition and development of City owned land faster, cheaper, and more streamlined” in a Tuesday letter to the public.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 18, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

How NYC is preparing its infrastructure for extreme weather

Thu-Loan Dinh, who helps lead infrastructure design for the city’s Department of Design and Construction, discusses the agency’s biggest resilience concerns and how to address them.

By Julie Strupp • May 17, 2023

Why Boston is turning bus stops into digital pop-up libraries

Users are not required to have a library card or download an app to access the primarily English- and Spanish-language offerings.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 16, 2023

NYC hotel reopens as asylum seeker center

The reopening of the Roosevelt Hotel will give the city a space to offer resources and short-term housing to a rising number of asylum seekers.

By Jenna Walters • May 16, 2023

A ‘tech hub’ in your city? Commerce Department launches application process for $500M in grants

The program will focus on key technology areas such as artificial intelligence and batteries. Its first phase will designate at least 20 “tech hubs” with the potential to be globally competitive innovation centers in the next decade. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 15, 2023

Rents continue rising, with moderate growth expected through 2023

Major U.S. metros, except Phoenix and Las Vegas, experienced rent increases from March to April, a new report found.

By Mary Salmonsen • May 15, 2023

How Bird, Lime, Spin and Superpedestrian want cities to regulate shared e-bikes and scooters

The companies’ recommendations come as many shared micromobility pilots end, and local governments make them permanent. 

By Michael Brady • May 15, 2023

Chicago environmental justice order signed as mayor’s term ends

The order requires the completion of a citywide environmental justice data project, creates a new environmental justice coordinator role and calls for community engagement standards.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 12, 2023

Housing is increasingly unaffordable for teachers in many metropolitan areas

Rental costs can range from 47% of a teacher’s salary in San Francisco to 17% in Wichita, Kansas, according to a National Council on Teacher Quality analysis.

By Anna Merod • May 12, 2023

Parking minimums will soon be history in Austin, Texas

“Our priority should be allowing space for people rather than mandating space for cars,” City Council member Zohaib Qadri said.

By Michael Brady • May 12, 2023

For more effective climate planning, cities must include suburbs and exurbs, researchers say

Existing regional entities, such as metropolitan planning organizations or councils of governments, can often be starting points for coordinated climate conversations, one researcher said.

By Kalena Thomhave • May 10, 2023

New York City’s congestion pricing plan gets the green light, despite opposition

Many advocates, urban planners and public officials in New York support the congestion pricing program, which would be the first in the U.S. Critics, however, called the program “anti-environment” and “cash-grabbing.”

By Michael Brady • May 10, 2023

Portland, Oregon, to pilot zero-emission delivery zone

The project could help the city reduce climate pollution and improve public health, the Portland Bureau of Transportation said. Portland received nearly $2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the project.

By Max Garland • May 9, 2023

Racial and ethnic disparities in traffic deaths revealed in NHTSA report

Blacks experience higher-than-average per capita traffic deaths, while such rates among White, Asian and Hispanic or Latino people are lower than average. Pedestrian fatality rates show even greater disparities.

By Dan Rosenbaum • May 5, 2023

Advocates push for housing owned by communities, rather than by investors

It’s still unclear what broad-scale programs would look like, but there is some evidence that decommodifying housing can work.

By Gaby Galvin • May 4, 2023

California spent $1.3B in cap-and-trade funds on climate, equity projects in 2022

The California Climate Investments funding addressed affordable housing, transportation, energy costs, extreme heat, fire, access to clean drinking water and more, a California Air Resources Board official said.

By Kalena Thomhave • May 2, 2023

Affordable, all-electric and energy-efficient housing gets $15M boost from NYC initiative

The initiative “will demonstrate to the affordable housing market a highly replicable new construction solution,” said Doreen Harris, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 2, 2023

Without vehicle or viable public transit, 1 in 5 miss needed healthcare: report

Adults with a disability, Black adults, people with low incomes and those on public insurance were more likely to report going without needed healthcare because of transportation issues, the Urban Institute found.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 1, 2023

Women, people of color, renters underrepresented on land-use boards: report

Homeownership and other requirements could create barriers to participation that “function as inexplicit racial filters,” an Urban Institute report found.

By Gaby Galvin • April 28, 2023

Asphalt art grants of $25K available from Bloomberg Philanthropies

“It’s amazing what a few cans of paint — and a forward-looking community — can achieve,” Bloomberg Philanthropies founder and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement.

By Michael Brady • April 27, 2023

Los Angeles’ Fashion District rezoning plan to include affordable housing

A key City Council committee agreed this week to add provisions for affordable housing and preserve manufacturing ahead of next month’s vote.

By Lara Ewen • April 27, 2023

NYC subway stations to get more elevators, ramps after MTA legal settlement

“Only about a quarter of stations are usable by people with disabilities affecting their mobility,” according to Disability Rights Advocates, which sued the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on behalf of people with disabilities.

By Michael Brady • April 26, 2023

$25B for fare-free transit? Federal lawmakers take third shot at passing legislation

The proposed legislation would create competitive grants to help transit providers establish zero-fare programs, improve bus service and pay for the increased costs of higher ridership.

By Dan Zukowski • April 25, 2023

Arizona GOP bill allowing hotels to say no to housing vouchers vetoed by governor

Hotels and motels in Arizona have never been required to accept a voucher to house someone, and no proposal to do so is under consideration, Gov. Katie Hobbs, D, said in a statement.

By Jenna Walters • April 24, 2023